Grading all 32 first-round picks in the 2018 NFL draft: Cardinals, Colts and Chargers get an A+

The first round of the 2018 NFL draft is in the books, and we’ve graded every pick.

1. Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma — Cleveland Browns

GRADE: C

Analysis: Mayfield could very well turn into a good NFL quarterback, but a lot will have to break right for the Oklahoma standout to end up as the best QB from this class. He’s not comfortable in tight pockets and has to do a better job of getting through his progressions while keeping his footwork intact. If he doesn’t clean up those issues, the Browns could be back in the QB market in a couple of years.

2. Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State — New York Giants

GRADE: C+

Analysis: Barkley is going to be a productive player, but he’ll have to be LaDainian Tomlinson for this to be considered a good pick for the Giants. Especially with two potential franchise quarterbacks on the board in Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

3. Sam Darnold, QB USC — New York Jets

GRADE: A

Analysis: The Jets gave up too much to move up to the No. 3 pick, but that won’t matter in a couple of years when Darnold develops into one of the league’s best quarterbacks. He’s a big kid with a strong arm who is fearless in the pocket. If Jets coaches can rein him in a little and cut down on the turnovers, he’ll be a Pro Bowler within a few years.

4. Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State — Cleveland Browns

GRADE: B-

Analysis: Maybe the Browns know something we don’t, but it seems like they could have traded out of this spot and still landed Ward later in the top 10. This isn’t necessarily a value pick, but Ward is a good talent and fills a need.

5. Bradley Chubb, DE North Carolina State — Denver Broncos

GRADE: B+

Analysis: This would have been an A if Denver didn’t pass on Josh Rosen to make it. Having said that, Chubb will give the Broncos a replacement for DeMarcus Ware and could turn that defense back into the force it was before the 2017 season.

6. Quenton Nelson, OG Notre Dame — Indianapolis Colts

GRADE: A+

Analysis: The Colts needed help on the offensive line and ended up with the best offensive line prospect in recent memory. Making this pick even better: Indy landed a bounty of picks from Jets to move back to this pick.

7. Josh Allen, QB Wyoming — Buffalo Bills (via TB)

GRADE: F

Analysis: The Bills gave up two second-round picks for the right draft a quarterback who is nothing more than a strong arm. Allen is inaccurate, struggles to read defenses and is uncomfortable from the pocket. Other than that, he’s a pretty good quarterback.

This pick isn’t all that surprising. After all, this is the same team that thought Nathan Peterman gave it a better chance to win than Tyrod Taylor.

8. Roquan Smith, LB Georgia — Chicago Bears

GRADE: B-

Analysis: I’m a fan of the player but not a fan of taking a linebacker with a top-10 pick. But if you’re going to take one this high, take a guy who can run with quicker tight ends and even some slot receivers like Smith can. He’s perfect for the modern game.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

9. Mike McGlinchey, OT Notre Dame — San Francisco 49ers

GRADE: B

Analysis: This is a bit of a reach, but the Niners needed to find an eventual replacement for Joe Staley, who turns 34 in August. McGlinchey has good feet and will be a factor in the run game from Day 1. He’s a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

10. Josh Rosen, QB UCLA — Arizona Cardinals (via OAK)

GRADE: A+

Analysis: The best quarterback in the draft had to wait 10 picks to hear his name called. Rosen gives the Cardinals a polished pocket passer who reads defense in an instant and throws the ball accurately. And now he’s motivated to make the nine team that passed on him regret that mistake.

Josh Rosen on being drafted 10th: “There were nine mistakes ahead of me.”

11. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Alabama — Miami Dolphins

GRADE: A-

Analysis: The Dolphins could have gone in a number of directions with this pick, but Fitzpatrick was just too talented to pass up. He can play anywhere in the secondary and make a game-changing impact. Expect Miami to deploy him in the same way Arizona used Tyrann Mathieu.

12. Vita Vea, DT Washington — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via BUF)

GRADE: C

Analysis: Vea is a remarkable athlete at the nose tackle position, but if he doesn’t develop into anything more than a run stuffer, this will look like a wasted pick. He wasn’t much of a pass rusher at Washington, so it could take some time before he makes that kind of impact for the Bucs.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

13. Da’Ron Payne, DT Alabama — Washington Redskins

GRADE: B

Analysis: A reach? Maybe. But Payne has the potential to be a game wrecker. Just ask Georgia, which couldn’t block him in the national title game. He’ll help turn around the Redskins’ 32nd-ranked run defense in a hurry.

14. Marcus Davenport, DE UTSA — New Orleans Saints (via GB)

GRADE: C-

Analysis: Everyone just assumed the Saints were making a move for Lamar Jackson when they traded up to this spot. Instead they took a raw defensive end who struggled playing against better competition at the Senior Bowl. It’s an odd move for a team that should be in win-now mode.

15. Kolton Miller, OT UCLA — Oakland Raiders (via ARI)

GRADE: D+

Analysis: The Raiders made some good moves on Thursday night — trading down for more picks and then trading for Steelers WR Martavis Bryant — but this was not one of them. Miller is a good athlete but needs refinement. And Raiders offensive line coach Tom Cable doesn’t have the best reputation as a developer after his time in Seattle.

16. Tremaine Edmunds, LB Virginia Tech — Buffalo Bills (via BUF)

GRADE: B+

Analysis: After whiffing on their first pick, the Bills redeem themselves (kind of) by taking one of the draft’s most promising prospects. Edmunds is raw but has enough physical talent to dominate games as soon as he steps on the field. He’s the run-and-chase linebacker Sean McDermott for his zone-based scheme.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

17. Derwin James, S Florida State — Los Angeles Chargers

GRADE: A+

Analysis: There’s no way the Chargers thought they had realistic shot at landing James before Thursday night. Thanks to some odd choices by other teams, Los Angeles adds to its already impressive core of young defensive players. James is an explosive athlete who can be an enforcer in the box, cover slot receivers or play deep safety.

18. Jaire Alexander, CB Louisville — Green Bay Packers (via SEA)

GRADE: B+

Analysis: The Packers traded back, landed an extra first-round pick in 2019 and still landed a top-15 talent who fills a hole on the roster. Alexander can play man coverage on an island, which is a requirement to play in Mike Pettine’s defense. He also gave us this glorious GIF…

19. Leighton Vander Esch, LB Boise State — Dallas Cowboys

GRADE: B+

Analysis: Jerry Jones resisted the urge to take a receiver and landed the most complete linebacker in the class. Maybe now the Cowboys defense won’t implode when Sean Lee inevitably gets injured.

20. Frank Ragnow, C Arkansas — Detroit Lions

GRADE: B

Analysis: The Lions continue to build up their offensive line by adding a nasty blocker who can play at multiple positions. Detroit could have gone for a running back to improve their dreadful run game, but Ragnow should make things easier for the backs already on the roster.

21. Billy Price, C Ohio State — Cincinnati Bengals

GRADE: B+

Analysis: Nobody is going to get excited about a mid-round interior lineman, but Price is exactly what the Bengals needed: A versatile lineman who will improve the run game and help keep pass rushers out of Andy Dalton’s face.

22. Rashaan Evans, LB Alabama — Tennessee Titans (via BAL from BUF)

GRADE: A-

Analysis: Evans isn’t your prototypical three-down linebacker, but he will make an impact on third downs as a pass rusher. Linebacker and pass rusher were both needs for the Titans, and Evans can play both roles.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

23. Isaiah Wynn, OT Georgia — New England Patriots

GRADE: A-

Analysis: If Wynn’s arms were an inch or two longer, he’d be a top-10 pick as a tackle. Many expected him to play guard at the next level, but it appears the Patriots will play him at his natural position. If that’s the case, and Wynn proves he can play tackle at his size, this could end up being the steal of the first round.

24. D.J. Moore, WR Maryland — Carolina Panthers

GRADE: B

Analysis: Moore needs to do a better job of creating separation but once he gets the ball in his hands, good things happen. He doesn’t have ideal height, but his physicality allows him to play on the outside. If Norv Turner can figure how to use him — that’s a Cam Newton-sized “if” — the Panthers may have finally found a replacement for Steve Smith. The man himself thinks they have.

Steve Smith "(The Panthers) have never been able to replace me. Until now."

25. Hayden Hurst, TE South Carolina — Baltimore Ravens (via TEN)

GRADE: D

Analysis: The Ravens drafted TE Maxx Williams in 2015. He is younger than Hurst, who will turn 25 in August. Not ideal. The South Carolina product has good hands and is a decent athlete but may have already reached his ceiling.

26. Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama — Atlanta Falcons

GRADE: B-

Analysis: Ridley doesn’t fill an immediate need, but he was the best receiver in this class and will compliment Julio Jones as a route-runner. But do we really trust Steve Sarkisian to figure out how to use him?

GRADE: D

Analysis: Penny is a good player who will walk into the Seahawks’ starting lineup. But Seattle had too many holes on its roster to be using a first-round pick on a running back. And Penny wasn’t even the best running back on the board. Not with Derrius Guice still available.

28. Terrell Edmunds, S Virginia Tech — Pittsburgh Steelers

GRADE: D+

Analysis: Edmunds fills a need for the Steelers, but he was expected to be a Day 2 pick so this looks like a reach. He’s a great athlete who can punish ball carriers, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he turns into productive player. Still, it’s hard to justify passing on a talent like Lamar Jackson with Ben Roethlisberger headed toward the end of his career.

29. Taven Bryan, DT Florida — Jacksonville Jaguars

GRADE: B-

Analysis: Bryan was downright unblockable at times thanks to a lightning quick first step. He’ll need to develop some pass rush moves and do a better job of diagnosing plays if he’s going to reach his ceiling as a pro. Bryan will have plenty of time to develop playing behind guys like Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

30. Mike Hughes, CB UCF — Minnesota Vikings

GRADE: B+

Analysis: Not only do the Vikings add a corner will tremendous ball skills, but they can now move on from Trae Waynes when his contract expires, which will open up cap space to lock down the core of the team.

31. Sony Michel, RB Georgia — New England Patriots

GRADE: C

Analysis: The Patriots will do a lot of damage with a player like Michel, but New England passed up some good defensive players to take a first-round running back. Scoring points hasn’t been a problem for Bill Belichick’s team. Keeping opponents from scoring has due to a lack of talent on the front seven.

32. Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville — Baltimore Ravens (via PHI)

GRADE: A+

Analysis: This is a great move for the Ravens for two reasons: Jackson is an absolute steal at No. 32 and by trading back into the first round to take him, Baltimore gets the fifth-year option. The Louisville star needs to clean up his footwork; if he does and grows into a more accurate passer, NFL defenses won’t stand a chance.

Grading all 32 first-round picks in the 2018 NFL draft: Cardinals, Colts and Chargers get an A+

Josh Rosen made Arizona one of the big winners on Day 1.

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